02/02/2026

February 02, 2026

The Daily Dirt Aus

By G’day Construction………….…… 

THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES

🚨 Safety Updates

Australian tradies face serious eye risks from long-term UV exposure, with many not wearing sunglasses consistently. Sydney carpenter Jason Hollier developed early cataracts after years outdoors and now urges younger workers to make high‑quality, UV‑protective sunnies non‑negotiable—essential safety gear as vital as sunscreen or a seatbelt.

✒ Headlines & Industry

The Queensland Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU will continue public hearings from February to June 2026, using broad powers to compel evidence. Companies may be required to produce documents or give statements and should seek legal advice, retain relevant records and prepare for full cooperation ahead of the final report due July 2026.

 

🏗️ Projects

NSW

Stage Two of the Parramatta Light Rail has been approved for main works, enabling major construction from 2027. The $3 billion, 10‑kilometre extension will add new track, nine stops, extra vehicles and a river bridge, connecting key Western Sydney growth areas and supporting housing hubs linked to Stage One.

Port of Newcastle has completed FEED work for its proposed green hydrogen hub, progressing the project toward major construction. The Clean Energy Precinct will require extensive new infrastructure, including hydrogen and ammonia production facilities powered by 1.5 GW of renewables. Environmental approvals and tendering begin in 2026, with operations targeted for 2029–30.

NSW will begin $5 million in safety upgrades on the Princes Highway at Coila and Mogo, including a new left‑turn slip lane, shoulder widening, rumble strips, and 2.2 km of flexible steel barriers. Works start early February and run for 12 weeks, improving reliability and reducing crash severity.

QLD

A 12‑storey, 88‑unit residential tower is proposed for 32–34 Hudson Road, Albion in Queensland. Designed by Architectus, the project includes three basement levels, rooftop communal space and 124 parking spaces. The development supports Albion’s transition from industrial to residential, adding density and modern design to Brisbane’s growing inner‑city precinct.

Bechtel has secured EPC delivery for Queensland’s Eva Copper Mine, with construction to start in 2026, integrating concentrator and non‑process infrastructure. In parallel, Bechtel is modularising NVIDIA’s AI‑factory design to accelerate global data‑centre builds. Both projects highlight procurement‑led efficiency, linking advanced engineering with rapid, scalable construction across mining and digital infrastructure.

Early works on Queensland’s new 538‑bed Toowoomba Hospital are well advanced, with over 11,000m³ of concrete poured and 200 workers on site. The project, due in 2029, will deliver acute mental health beds, outpatient buildings, a multi‑storey car park and heritage refurbishments as the state prepares for main construction to begin.

SA

An $800m federal–state partnership will deliver 17,000 new homes across Adelaide, with fast‑tracked land, water and infrastructure works to boost supply. Nearly 7,000 homes will target first‑home buyers. Industry groups warn construction labour shortages and infrastructure delays must be addressed for delivery as housing affordability dominates South Australia’s upcoming election.

VIC

Victoria has approved the next phase of Australia’s largest urban renewal program, replacing seven ageing high‑rise towers across Melbourne with modern, energy‑efficient homes. The redevelopment will triple housing capacity, with resident relocations starting July. Demolition and new builds are already underway as part of the state’s $6.3 billion housing investment.

A $58 million, 12‑storey apartment tower at 5–11 Mercer St has been approved, signalling renewed development momentum in central Geelong. The Ginn + Mercer project will deliver 81 apartments, retail space, three basement levels and significant infrastructure upgrades, transforming the city’s northern gateway and contributing to Geelong’s ongoing urban revitalisation.

An RMIT report finds Melbourne’s Barkly Street public housing tower could be refurbished rather than demolished, delivering faster upgrades, lower emissions and less community disruption. Modelling shows renovation with added homes offers comparable costs to rebuild while supporting ageing residents, preserving social networks and reducing construction impacts by up to 44.5%.

🧰 Construction Au Other

A major union has invoked Labor’s new workplace laws to seek to impose conditions up and down the concrete supply chain, potentially reshaping a key part of the construction industry. The Transport Workers Union has applied to the Fair Work Commission to put in place minimum contract standards

Austroads has released nine new technical specifications to standardise best practice in road and transport infrastructure construction across Australia. Covering earthworks, stormwater, cabling, and safety barriers, the guidelines aim to reduce risk and improve durability, supporting consistent, high‑quality delivery of national transport projects and harmonising construction methods across jurisdictions.

The ARA’s 2026–27 Pre‑Budget submission calls for long‑term rail investment, including sustained funding for national freight upgrades, a dedicated rail‑decarbonisation program, extended level‑crossing upgrades, and support for the next phase of the National Rail Action Plan. The recommendations aim to boost rail network safety, resilience and productivity across Australia.

🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology

Manual takeoff is slowing estimators and capping bid capacity, but AI tools like On‑Screen Takeoff with Takeoff Boost cut measuring time by up to 95%. Automating extraction allows teams to complete more bids, reduce errors, improve pricing accuracy and reinvest hours into strategy, client work and workforce development.

Cornell researchers have developed a 3D‑printing method that produces concrete underwater using seafloor sediment, overcoming washout and pumpability challenges. Backed by DARPA, the system uses robotic deposition and real‑time sensing to build structural elements like arches, enabling low‑disturbance marine construction and offering new possibilities for subsea infrastructure repair and fabrication.

AI is reshaping engineering workflows, taking over repetitive calculations, code checks and coordination tasks, but not replacing engineers. Instead, it frees them to focus on constructability, safety and design oversight. Hybrid AI‑engineer models accelerate permit‑ready plans, reduce errors and boost productivity, ensuring engineers remain essential to future construction delivery.

DesiMachines.com marks its first year as a neutral digital platform helping India’s construction sector compare equipment and make informed purchasing decisions. Serving 25,000 monthly users, it supports machine discovery, specification comparisons, financing and insurance guidance. The growing platform plans AI‑driven tools and expanded coverage across mining and material‑handling equipment.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

The Institution of Structural Engineers has released a new manual aligning bamboo design with ISO 22156:2021, providing engineers with long‑needed structural guidance. It details mechanical properties, durability, grading, seismic behaviour and safe design methods for low‑rise buildings, helping integrate full‑culm bamboo into mainstream construction as a sustainable alternative material.

A CIOB webinar highlighted engineered deconstruction as the future of demolition, emphasising planned disassembly, material recovery and direct reuse to cut carbon. Colemans showcased large‑scale steel‑reuse projects, proving up to 89% material recovery. Early design integration, rigorous testing and sequencing were identified as key to safer, lower‑waste, circular construction outcomes.

🌏 Around the World

Colombia’s 225‑metre Ituango Dam nearly failed in 2018 after rushed tunnelling and unstable geological conditions caused diversion tunnels to collapse. Emergency works raised the dam wall and activated untested spillways to prevent catastrophe. Massive reconstruction, new tunnels and turbine repairs continue, with full project completion now expected in 2027.

Saudi Arabia is set to significantly scale back NEOM after major delays and cost overruns. A year‑long review is expected to shrink and redesign The Line into a smaller, more conventional development using existing infrastructure, with NEOM potentially pivoting toward data‑centre‑driven construction aligned with Saudi Arabia’s AI ambitions.

📖 Miscellaneous

We know how to cool our cities and towns. So why aren’t we doing it?

Victoria’s heatwave, with temperatures nearing 49°C, highlights urgent urban‑heat risks for Australia’s growing cities. Poor planning, heat‑absorbing materials and inadequate building design worsen extreme temperatures. Experts warn construction must shift to cooler materials, better insulation and large‑scale urban‑shade strategies to keep cities liveable as heatwaves become more frequent and severe.

👷‍♀️ Tradies and Resource

ACCIONA has renewed its Top Employer certification across major global markets, including Australia, reinforcing its strong people‑first culture. With recognition in over 10 countries representing 95% of its workforce, ACCIONA stands among only 12 companies worldwide to hold the Enterprise Seal, highlighting its leadership in talent development, inclusion and sustainability.

Former CFMEU leader John Setka appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court, charged with sending threatening and abusive emails to a union administrator after receiving notices to produce. Police previously raided his home, seizing devices, leading to seven charges of using a communications service to menace. His case returns to court on June 3.

Thanks for reading,

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Alex

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